Mark Selby ranks title his ‘finest hour’

MARK SELBY says his greatest achievement was the perfect response to the critics.

The 29-year-old claimed a first williamhill.com UK Championship title with a 10-6 win over Shaun Murphy on Sunday night.

Reaching the final ensured Selby reclaimed the No1 ranking he lost to Judd Trump five weeks ago. And it ended 15 months of hell, after Selby was plagued by a neck injury and suffered from loss of form and confidence.

The ‘Leicester Jester’ was also on the end of cruel jibes that he was not a worthy No1 after he failed to win a title in the 15 months he was at the summit of the game first time around.

But with that put right at York’s Barbican Centre, Selby said the win that brought him £125,000 was hugely satisfying.

“This is my finest hour in the game – so far, anyway,” he said. “I am sitting here a winner. I don’t really care what people think, whether they consider me a worthy world No1 or not.

This is my finest hour in the game – so far, anyway

Mark Selby

“When I was No1 the first time I wasn’t performing to a high level and was low on confidence, so maybe they have a right to say that.

“But rankings don’t lie and this isn’t a bad way to come back. It was great to get through the semi-final knowing I was back at No1 and this is the icing on the cake. My confidence took a big blow after the neck injury and I’m still getting that back. This will do it a world of good. At one stage I wasn’t sure if I was going to play again and be able to compete. It’s incredibly frustrating when you are sat at home, unable to practise.

“For me, who loves playing and competing, sitting at home watching it on television is very upsetting.

“And even since my neck injury, because I have been struggling for confidence, not performing and getting down on myself, I have been difficult to live with. I’ve been taking my work home with me and taking it out on my wife Vicky a bit probably, which is all wrong.”

World No4 Murphy was gutted about failing to add to his own haul of four ranking titles. But he was quick to leap to Selby’s defence.

Murphy, 30, from Sale, said: “Some of the criticism he has taken over the past year has been completely unfounded.

“And I’m sure that the criticism he got, far more than any injury, will make this victory the sweetest of the lot for him.

“He was No1 for a long time the first time, he is one of the best pros on the tour . Of the people who have criticised him, none of them have achieved anything in the game.